Dropcloth

Abstract

An easily and quickly deployable device for protecting against soiling of non-workpiece items during painting of a workpiece is provided by a device having at least one rigid section and at least one flexible section. The rigid section also acts as a central area for the flexible section. The device is folded open to protect non-workpiece items during the painting operation.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device to prevent soiling or splatter by paint of a non-workpiece item during the painting of a workpiece which comprises: (a) a protective fabric having a working surface and an underside, said protective fabric defining a fixed area of coverage to cover a proportionate area of said non-workpiece item;   (b) at least one flat rigid panel to which said protective fabric is affixed, either by containing said rigid panel within a pocket formed from said protective fabric or by said rigid panel being affixed to the underside of said protective fabric, and wherein the area of said flat rigid panel substantially matches the fixed area of coverage of the protective fabric to which it is affixed; and   (c) at least one flexible section of said protective fabric extending from at least one side of said fixed area of coverage to selectively increase said fixed area of coverage in an amount less than or equal to the area of said flexible section; whereby the amount of protection provided by said protective fabric can be selectively increased from said fixed area of coverage up to said fixed area of coverage plus the area of said flexible section.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 comprising two flat rigid panels, the combined area of which together substantially match the fixed area of coverage of the protective fabric and allow said protective fabric to be folded substantially in half with said rigid panels affixed. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 comprising two flexible sections extending from opposite sides of said fixed area of coverage. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein an outer aspect of said flexible section is affixed to a rigid rod. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 wherein said protective fabric comprises cloth, plastic, material with a liquid impermeable backing or woven tarpaulin material. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 where in said rigid panel comprises cardboard, wood, plastic or metal. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 in which the rigid member comprises sections of bonded cardboard, each section having corrugations perpendicularly offset from the section to which it is bonded. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7 in which the rigid member has two halves which may be assembled or disassembled. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 in which the two halves of said rigid member can be assembled and disassembled by means of interlocking tongue and groove edges. 
     
     
       10. A device to prevent soiling or splatter of a non-workpiece item during the painting of a workpiece comprising: (a) a protective fabric having a working surface and an underside, said protective fabric defining a fixed area of coverage to cover a proportionate area of said non-workpiece item;   (b) two flat rigid panels to which said protective fabric is affixed, either by containing said rigid panel within a pocket formed from said protective fabric or by said rigid panel being affixed to the underside of said protective fabric, thereby forming two rigid sections which are hingedly connected to each other by a flexible portion of said protective fabric, wherein the area of said flat rigid panels combined substantially matches the fixed area of coverage of the protective fabric; and   (c) two flexible sections of said protective fabric extending from opposite sides of said fixed area of coverage and which can be folded out from and into the center of said rigid sections whereby the amount of protection provided by said protective fabric can be selectively increased from said fixed area of coverage up to said fixed area of coverage plus the area of said flexible section.   
     
     
       11. The device of claim 10 wherein each said flexible section has a rigid rod affixed to its outermost aspect. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 10 wherein said flexible sections and said rigid sections can be easily separated and re-attached to each other. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 12 in which said separation and said re-attachment is by means of hook-and-loop material, zipper or snaps. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 10 further comprising a disposable protective sheet for use in preventing soiling of the device. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 10 further comprising a handle for easily transporting the device in a fully folded state. 
     
     
       16. A dropcloth for protecting flooring and horizontal surfaces while preparing and painting walls and vertical surfaces comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular shaped flexible protective fabric having plurality linearly spaced sections;   (b) at least one substantially flat rigid panel member affixed to one of said sections such that said entire section becomes substantially flat and rigid; and   (C) at least one section remaining flexible, whereby the area of coverage provided by said protective fabric may be selectively increased from the area equal to said panel up to the combined area of said panel and said flexible section.   
     
     
       17. The dropcloth of claim 16 wherein said protective fabric has four linearly spaced sections such that two flat rigid panel members are affixed to the inner sections and the outer sections remain flexible. 
     
     
       18. The dropcloth of claim 17 wherein further comprising two elongated members affixed to the outer edge of each of the outer sections such that the outer sections may be easily folded over said inner sections for minimal coverage or extended the length of the outer sections for maximum coverage or positioned therebetween for selective coverage. 
     
     
       19. The dropcloth of claim 17 further comprising two additional flat rigid panel members having an area less than the area of said outer sections affixed toward the outer edge of each outer section such that the outer sections may be easily folded over said inner sections for minimal coverage or extended the length of the outer sections for maximum coverage or positioned therebetween for selective coverage. 
     
     
       20. The dropcloth of claim 16 wherein said flat rigid panel member is affixed by insertion into a pocket of said section or attached to an underside of said section.